The Poultry Keeper

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2067 Location: North Cornwall

Found some crawlies today which I think might be the dreaded red mite, tiny grey moving ash things and some bigger dark red things . Had a really good clean out and gone over all cracks and perch ends with the blow torch then the dyson twice.

OH thinks a good coat of creosote will controll them. What d'you think?

Also, If I have them in one house will they be in all the rest? If I moved birds from one house to another would they take the little devils with them?

nigel · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject:

If it's the real creosote, then the phenols in it will kill the red mite. The Health and Safety people didn't like this kind of creosote and it had to be changed to something safer (that doesn't kill red mite). I don't think you can buy the proper stuff now for domestic use, though you can still buy it in 25 gallon drums for agricultural use etc.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Can you get some Poultry Shield ?
A good spray with that will help,
Also do you have any Diatom, a liberal sprinkling of that everywhere will stop the chicks carrying it,

Yes, they are probably in the other house as well.

mojo · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject:

red mite are like kids once they visit they get everywhere..............exterimate...exterminate...and keep treating

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2067 Location: North Cornwall

Yes, it is the proper creosote. Done 1 big and 2 small houses today with the blow torch and done all perch ends with the creosote.

do you think it is red mite? they dark red ones look quite big, more like tiny beetles. I found about 12 at one perch end.

Does the creosote have to get on them or will walking over it do them in.

Will get some Poultry Shield tomorrow. Is it safe for chicks?

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

yup, poultry sheild is safe for chicks, providing you let the houses dry before letting them back in

poultry poofs · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject:

Yup you have mites theres different sorts the big ones are adults and are that colour because they have been feeding on your chickens blood this morning.You will find smaller ones too like specks of sea sand red,grey or browny translucent colour and white dusty particles are eggs.Usually in large clusters in the daytime.You can imagine how sick they can make your birds very quickly when they all start feeding on them.The creosote will kill them but I would leave the doors open to air the house or the chooks wont be too pleased.Its best really that they dont go in for a week once its treated with creosote.You will find them on you too.I would be very surprised if you havent got any on you if you have been working in the house treating it.They are pretty disgusting but they wash off Laughing

Poultry shield can be sprayed and the house used straight after.Get some Diatom powder to dust in the nest boxes and bedding material.You need to keep doing this or the mites will come back.

rich

CP · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject:

"Kill them...kill them all!"
They are really awful things & very persistent. Keep cleaning, cleaning, cleaning & do all that's been suggested above.

Good luck! Wink

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2067 Location: North Cornwall

I will,thank you all for the advice.

I feel a total pr*t for not realising sooner. Embarassed

A few weeks ago I lost a lovely young Dorking pullet. She went very pale and just died. I think now it was the mites that caused her death.

When I let everyone out this morning a white cockerel come out with blood spots on his white feathers and that sounded the alarm bells. Poor things Embarassed

thank you all.

poultry poofs · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

bain of my life theyre like miniature vampires and will turn chooks anaemic and septacaemic in no time.they (chooks) turn pale or white and usually you find them dead in the morning if you dont keep on top of things.Broody's are at risk as you try not to disturb them but the mites are on them day and night in that situation so go down hill fast.spray regularly.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2067 Location: North Cornwall

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

I have completely dismantled our houses and blowtorched them till the wood is scorched.Steam cleaned them, pressure washed them, sprayed them,soaked them in creosote, and still have them though not as many.Simple answer is to just keep spraying and dusting with Diatom in the dry.The diatom is like sharp broken glass to them it slices through their skin and eggs and they die of dehydration.The things can live for months with no food and the eggs can be ok for years you have to keep spraying even when you think there are none.One thing I found useful if you find a big sea of them under a perch etc is cold start for starting engines.Spray them with that it kills them instantly and stops the blighters running away to hide.Make sure the shed is well ventilated and dont do it with chooks in there though and dont smoke Laughing

It evaporates very quickly and leaves no lasting odour.Not the most ideal but it works quicker than anything else I have tried.Camrosa for horses is also good on the chooks legs as it keeps them off and its also excellent for scaly leg mite.I have also smeared it on perches it seems to work too.

rich

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2067 Location: North Cornwall

Thanks Rich, this is new to me, I've never had them before.

Some red mite questions for anyone with an answer.

Do they die off in the winter?

Are they completely nocturnal, if the chooks sit on the perches during the day would they continue to feed.

Is it likey that a bird moved during the day to a different house would take them with them.

Do they seem to pick one bird out from the others or is it just position on the perch.

Are there any really good telltale signs that you've got them- other than a very pale dead Dorking pullet and bloodspecks on a white cockerel that is.

And yes, I could feel things crawling on me and in my hair but didn't feel any bite. Do they?

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject:

They dont die off in winter though their numbers are lessened with the cold weather.
They are normally nocturnal and crawl onto the birds to feed at night however if its dark or dull in the house or nest box they will carry on feeding on the birds.If you have a broody sitting there is probably a load of mites underneath her if you picked her up,if you have a bad imfestation.I have actually found them on newly hatched chicks under a broody.If the birds are perching during the day its probably not going to be covered in mites if its light in there.They crawl off the birds and find cracks and crevices to hide.
Theres always the chance of taking a few mites with you to another house but more chance at night as the mites are crawling on the birds.Unfortunately night time is the best time to move birds. Confused

Mites dont normally discriminate between birds-chicken is chicken to them.It may bepend on which poor bird is closest to the gathering of hidden mites as to who gets covered first.
Only real way to check is go looking for them in the day and evening with a torch you will find them in all th dark places under perches behind brackets in gaps in floors and walls,backs of doors,in the bedding and straw if you use it, in fact anywhere they have room to hide in.You may find them on newly collected eggs too.
They are completely harmless to us and dont bite us but they do get irritating crawling on you and its best to shower them all off and bung your clothes in a hot wash as soon as possible.Dont throw them on the bedroom floor or they will be in the bedroom Or the laundry basket, Laughing

rich

debcat · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

the cold must have an effect on them, in four years of living here I've never seen them or heard of anyone up here getting them
must remember to keep my fingers crossed now Wink